Shale oil extraction

This article is about production of synthetic oil from oil shale. For production of crude oil trapped in oil-bearing shales (tight oil), see tight oil.
Shale oil extraction
A photograph of Shell Oil's experimental in situ shale oil extraction facility in the Piceance Basin of northwestern Colorado. In the center of the photo, a number of oil recovery pipes lie on the ground. Several oil pumps are visible in the background.
Shell's experimental in situ shale oil facility, Piceance Basin, Colorado, United States
Process typeChemical
Industrial sector(s)Chemical industry, oil industry
Main technologies or sub-processesKiviter, Galoter, Petrosix, Fushun, Shell ICP
FeedstockOil shale
Product(s)Shale oil
Leading companiesRoyal Dutch Shell, Eesti Energia, Viru Keemia Grupp, Petrobras, Fushun Mining Group
Main facilitiesFushun Shale Oil Plant, Narva Oil Plant, Petrosix, Stuart Shale Oil Plant

Shale oil extraction is an industrial process for unconventional oil production. This process converts kerogen in oil shale into shale oil by pyrolysis, hydrogenation, or thermal dissolution. The resultant shale oil is used as fuel oil or upgraded to meet refinery feedstock specifications by adding hydrogen and removing sulfur and nitrogen impurities.[1]

Shale oil extraction is usually performed above ground (ex situ processing) by mining the oil shale and then treating it in processing facilities. Other modern technologies perform the processing underground (on-site or in situ processing) by applying heat and extracting the oil via oil wells.[2]

The earliest description of the process dates to the 10th century. In 1684, England granted the first formal extraction process patent. Extraction industries and innovations became widespread during the 19th century. The industry shrank in the mid-20th century following the discovery of large reserves of conventional oil, but high petroleum prices at the beginning of the 21st century have led to renewed interest, accompanied by the development and testing of newer technologies.

As of 2010, major long-standing extraction industries are operating in Estonia, Brazil, and China. Its economic viability usually requires a lack of locally available crude oil. National energy security issues have also played a role in its development. Critics of shale oil extraction pose questions about environmental management issues, such as waste disposal, extensive water use, waste water management, and air pollution.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference purga was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference AICHE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).